BAGHDAD, Dec 31: Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani announced on Wednesday the launch of a new international tender for development of 11 oil and gas fields in a bid to ramp up the nation’s lagging oil production.

The development of the huge fields could help boost Iraqi oil production by up to 2.5 million barrels per day, Shahristani told a news conference.

The minister named the oil fields as Majnoon, West Qurna Phase II, Halfaya, East Baghdad, Gharrafa, Qayara, Najmah, Badrah, Kifil/West Kifil/Mirjan and a group in Diyala province, and the Siba gas field in Basra.

“The new crude fields can increase production by 2.0 to 2.5 million barrels per day within three to four years of the deals being sealed,” he said.

The tender invitation comes six months after the first round of bidding was opened in which six oil and two gas fields were offered for development. Shahristani said the winner of the tenders would be announced in the first quarter of next year.—AFP